Young Highland golfers are on the road to success thanks to big-hearted members at Royal Dornoch.
Club captain Gary Bethune has welcomed a new minibus which is already ferrying youngsters to events across the country.
It has been secured thanks to support from a recently launched Junior Foundation which aims to break down barriers to participation, fund additional coaching and offer opportunities for competition and personal development.
Last year, Royal Dornoch was hailed the Golf Foundation’s UK Junior Club of the Year, with a string of silverware rewarding travels to compete in the Central Belt and beyond.
Under the guidance of head teaching professional Gary Dingwall and coaches Ally McNaughton and Erin Herd, every local school pupil is being given the opportunity to sample golf.
“The vehicle will be a huge asset to the juniors,” said Gary.
“Because of the work Gary and the team have put into developing the youngsters, they are playing – and enjoying success – in tournaments on the national stage.
“That hadn’t happened for many years.
“We now have around 150 enthusiastic kids taking part in coaching classes.
“I was a junior here myself, and junior convener many years further down the line, and I see this as the lifeblood of the golf club, carrying forward the values, traditions and love of the game in Dornoch.
“This year, our youngsters have qualified for events at The Belfry, Gleneagles, Gullane and recently they again enjoyed success at the Golf Sixes National Final held at The Blairgowrie Golf Club.
“Inevitably, it involves extensive travel. Until now we have relied heavily on the club car and parents driving up and down the A9.
“The minibus can be used by others, including the seniors and the ladies.
“It’s nice to see all the hard work put in by the coaching team coming to fruition and the Foundation will help any youngster with ambitions of taking their golf further.
“There is a pathway now and it would be marvellous if we could produce the next Bob MacIntyre here at Royal Dornoch.”
Gary hailed the generosity of Royal Dornoch members at home and abroad for supporting the Junior Foundation, and also the club’s Heritage Foundation.
“A lot of our members, especially ones based in the USA, had been asking how they could support the club’s junior development programme.
“The upshot was the creation of this Foundation, which allows Americans to enjoy tax breaks for any donations and members closer to home are eligible for Gift Aid.
“Past captain David Bell, who is a highly regarded economist, did all the heavy lifting and deserves enormous credit.
“I have replied personally to all those members who have been so generous with their support for our juniors. They appreciate that Dornoch is a very special place.
“One gentleman, George Lengvari, donates thousands of pounds every year to support the junior section. There is a lot of goodwill out there.
“We now have a lovely team trophy named after George in recognition of his fantastic support for the juniors.”
